CHURCHWARDENS' ACCOUNTS OF BEDFORDSHIRE. 265 



68 dozen were killed, and the following year it fell to 40 dozen, 

 and after that date no further entries appear. 



SlJNDON. 



There still exists a book in the vestry of ' Payments for 

 Destruction of Vermin.' Under the heading 31st March, 1767, 

 appear seven entries showing a total of 173 dozen Sparrows, 

 paid for at a rate of 2d. per dozen ; and in 1770, 93 dozen. 

 Then a break in these records appears until 1811, and continues 

 with a few blank years until 1833 ; these latter annual payments 

 varying from 14s. to Is., prices not being given. 



"WELLINGTON. 



1804. £ s. d. 



Easter. Mole Catchers Bill 2 2 



14 doz. Sparrows at 2d. doz 2 4 



4 Hedgehogs 1 4 



2 Polecats 8 



There are no other entries than these, except for killing 

 Sparrows, and these occur for many years in the church rates. 



Woburn. 

 1757. s. d. 



Sept. 2. Paid John Ince for eight edge Hoggs 2 8 



1759. 

 For 3 Hedge Hogs 1 



The accounts date back to 1753, but the above are the first 



entries of vermin given. I am unable to add for the present 



any additional payments. 



Wooton. 



There do not appear to be any payments made, but I under- 

 stand there was formerly in the parish an official, Hayward, who 

 took straying cattle to the pound, and was also mole-catcher. 

 He held, in virtue of his office, a small plot of land. 



From the following parishes I have been unable to obtain 

 any information at present : — Aspley Guise, St. Peters, Bedford, 

 Chellington, Clapham, Clifton, Clophill, Cranfield, Dunstable, 

 Dunton, Eaton Socon, Edworth, Eversholt, Farndish, Fel- 

 mersham, Haynes, Hockliffe, Houghton Conquest, Kempston, 

 Melchbourne, Milton Ernest, Oakley, Odell, Pavenham, Eavens- 

 den, Ptenhold, Sharnbrook, Shefford, Shillington, Stanbridge, 

 Streatley, Thurleigh, Tilbrook, Tilsworth, Tingrith, Westoning, 

 Whipsnade, Wilden, and Wilshamstead. 



